Primates & Dragons of Indonesia

Those not flying with the group from London will meet the tour leader at the

airport at 9:00am (subject to change - see Final Joining Instructions) and

will then meet the rest of the group there (it is normally possible to meet

the tour leader at our pre-tour hotel at 7:30am and go with them to the

airport to meet the rest of the group – though this needs to be arranged

beforehand). From the airport we drive to Bukit Lawang (approximately 4-5

hours) on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park stopping for lunch on the

way.

The rest of the afternoon is free to simply relax after the flight and

explore the village. Bukit Lawang is one of the most accessible places to

spot orang-utans, thanks to an orang-utan conservation programme that has

been operating on the eastern edge of the park since the 1970s. The Gunung

Leuser National Park is one of the orang-utan's last remaining strongholds,

with more than 5000 animals thought to be living in the wild. Sumatran

elephants, Sumatran rhinos and Sumatran tigers are all also found in the

park, though very rarely seen. The village is attractive, built along one

side of the river; relaxing at the river side it is not uncommon to see wild

orang-utans come down to the water to drink.

This morning we will head into the Gunung Leuser National Park which is one

of the two remaining habitats for Sumatran orang-utans. This is one of the

largest national parks in the world, containing over 800,000 hectares of

virgin rainforest. We will spend time with our guide and have an opportunity

to explore the trails, searching for orang-utans and other wildlife. The hike

itself is a leisurely couple hours and there is a good chance of seeing

Thomas leaf monkeys and Long-tailed macaques as well as, hopefully one of the

orang-utans who inhabit the forest. Our hike ends at the ex-feeding station.

Whilst orang-utans are no longer fed here it is still a good place to have

good chances of seeing them.

This morning we return to the old orang-utan rehabilitation centre. Those who

want will then venture further from the park headquarters, discovering the

flora and fauna of the park, and continuing our search for orang-utans and

other wildlife. The park is host to approximately 700 different species of

animals, more than 175 mammals, 320 birds, 190 reptiles and amphibians

including Thomas leaf monkeys, macaques and gibbons. Other mammals found

include the Sumatran elephant and the elusive Sumatran tiger and rhinoceros,

although the last is unfortunately facing imminent extinction. We are

unlikely to encounter these shy animals. This excursion will last

approximately 6 hours, including time spent at the feeding station, and can

be taxing given the steep, muddy terrain and hot and humid climate.

Reasonable fitness is required and, therefore, completely optional. For

anyone who chooses not to undertake the jungle-hike the rest of the day is at

leisure to relax at the lodge.

This morning we explore Bukit Lawang’s cultural side. Following a walk

through the village we head to a local house where we watch an Indonesian

cooking demonstration by one of the villagers. This is followed by a local,

home-made lunch. In the afternoon we return to Medan (approx. 4 hours) where

we will spend the night before our early morning flight tomorrow.

We fly to Bali via Jakarta. We aim to catch an early morning flight with good

connections to minimise travel time but this may not always be possible and

we may have to take a later flight. If all goes as planned, we will be

arriving in Bali in the early afternoon and will transfer to our hotel in

Sanur near the beach. The rest of the day is free to relax and plan any

optional activities for tomorrow.

Today is a free day to enjoy what Sanur has to offer. There are numerous

options both on land and water whether you're feeling active, want to take in

some culture or just relax on a nearby beach. Some of these options include a

full-day temple tour; downhill biking tour; rafting; or a Bali village tour.

Today we fly to Labuan Bajo at the westernmost tip of the island of Flores.

This town is the main entry point into the Komodo National Park and as such

has been growing in popularity as a tourist destination. We aim to catch the

afternoon flight which means we will be leaving for the airport around 12:30

and will be arriving at our hotel in Labuan Bajo later this afternoon.

Komodo National Park, established in 1980, is comprised of islands and the

surrounding sea and includes mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and colourful

coral reefs. The three main large islands are Komodo, Rinca and Padar

although many smaller islands come within the park boundaries.

Boarding the boat early we set sail for the next three days. Our first

destination is Rinca Island which we shall visit after lunch. Rinca is one of

the islands which houses Komodo dragons but is also known for its wild pigs,

buffalos and birds. Going ashore we head out on a trek accompanied by a local

island ranger and go looking for Komodo dragons in their natural environment.

Afterwards we return to the boat and set sail for Padar Island where we go

snorkelling in the pristine waters. In the late afternoon we have the

opportunity to walk up to the top of one of Padar’s hills to watch a

panoramic sunset over the national park.

Accommodation on the boat is fairly basic and is a mix of bunks and

mattresses on deck. 

This morning we make our way to Komodo Island. Upon arrival we take a trek to

Banunggulung, the river bed where the dragons used to be fed fresh goats

(until the mid-2000s). The hike takes us through spectacular scenery and

there many unusual plants along the way. It is estimated that there are about

2,000 Komodo dragons on the island along with wild boar, deer and buffalo.

There is also good bird-watching with cockatoos and Gosong birds amongst

others.

Following this, we'll visit Pink Beach where we have time to go snorkelling

with good chances of seeing parrotfish, clownfish and, with a bit of luck,

various other sea-creatures including sea turtles. There is ample time to

swim and snorkel and enjoy the beach before we head towards Manta Point -

so-named as giant Manta rays, some with a wing-span of 4m, are regularly seen

here. Our final leg today takes us to Gili Laba Island where we will drop

anchor for the night.

For those who wish, we will get up before dawn in order to head to a

viewpoint on Laba Island from which to see the sunrise.



Later on there is the opportunity to do some more snorkelling around Laba

Island before setting sail again. Time permitting we will make one final

snorkelling stop at Kanawa Island on the way back to Labuan Bajo. Returning

to Labuan Bajo we will transfer back to our hotel for the night.

We fly back to Denpasar (the flight times can vary) and drive (approx 2

hours) to Ubud, surrounded by rice fields and temples, our final destination.



Ubud gets its name from the Balinese word ubad (medicine); the town was

originally important as a source of medicinal herbs and plants, but these

days is known for its artistic community, awash with artists' workshops and

art galleries. Ubud's history can be traced back to the 8th century, when a

Buddhist priest came to Bali from Java, he meditated at the confluence of the

two Wos rivers at Campuan, just west of the modern day town centre. A shrine

was established and later expanded by Nirartha, a Javanese priest who is

regarded as the founder of Bali's religious practices and rituals as we know

them today. When Ubud became a Dutch protectorate at its own request, the

colonialists interfered little, allowing the traditional arts and culture of

the area to remain relatively unchanged. From the 1930s onwards western

artists and intellectuals arrived furthering the local art scene, amongst

them Charlie Chaplin and H.G. Wells. Ubud is still a haven for literati,

glitterati and art collectors.

Our first stop on our tour of Central Bali is the Kintamani area where we

will go on a short hike (4.5km) from the rim of the Batur caldera, descending

through black lava fields. We have the opportunity to learn more about the

volcano and enjoy views over the crater and surrounding area.

Our tour continues to the Tampaksiring area where we visit Gunung Kawi

Temple. Set amidst rice terraces this 11th century temple feature ten

rock-hewn candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face itself. They stand at 7m

and combine both Hindu and Buddhist attributes. The descent to the candi

involves numerous stairs (which we also have to climb back up!). After this

we can visit Tirta Empul Temple known amongst Balinese Hindus for its holy

waters which are believed to wash away bad spirits. The final stop of the day

is at Tegalalang for sweeping views over the island’s most impressive rice

paddies.

Today is free to wander through the vibrant streets of Ubud enjoying the

town’s cafes, shops, temples and theatres or go on another optional trip

exploring other parts of the island. Your tour leader will be able to advise

you on how best to spend your time.

The trip ends after breakfast this morning for land only clients. Those on

the group flights will be taken to Denpasar airport in time for their flight

home.